Saturday, May 27, 2017

Skulls, glorious skulls!

So in sketching out my Indiana Jones themed Halloween, I started counting up how many skulls I would need...yeah, it's quite a few.  So I started to look around for bulk skulls and such online.  Bit of a difficulty in the midst of May.  The dollar store usually has them, and it may be a matter of just buying them up as many as possible.  But in the meantime, to combat the anxiety of that, I found this lovely tutorial about making your own skulls from already owned skulls.  Basically you're covering said skull with aluminum foil, then paper macheing several layers, breaking it open in pieces, and reassembling it before adding a few more layers.  So I decided to try this method out on two of my nicer skulls just to see what kind of a time and work commitment it would be compared to the result.  If I can find my overly larger skull, it might be worth it.  Ooh, and if I modify it a bit, I cooould make the alien skulls by elongating the back of the skulls a bit.  Hmmm....

ANYways.  Here's the tutorial video by Unhinged Productions I found that was the most useful.  I should also note I have serious workshop envy of this guy.  *drool*

Friday, May 26, 2017

Indiana Jones Sketch

Sketching!  It's one of the best moments of a new Halloween design.  Everything seems possible and factors like time, energy and cost are mere details.  So here is the 2017 sketch, mapping out some of the big pieces and basic layout.


And a few side sketches--still in progress.




Tuesday, May 16, 2017

I HAVE OBTAINED CHAIN MAIL!!!

Attempting a grim/foreboding countenance.  I...I'll practice. 
Much excitement!  Chain mail was found at a decent price in my wanderings of the internet, along with a cap to wear underneath so my hair doesn't get stuck in the rings (important).  With this, I'm one step closer to the holy grail guardian knight I aspire to as a costume this year.  I'm thinking I'll just make the tunic and applique a giant red crusader's cross on the front.  Might have to find some gloves of some kind.  Maybe a coat or shoulder pads?  The plan is to be fully outside, though the porch will (hopefully) be walled off a bit from the elements.  But from past experience, it does get awfully cold.  So I'll be grateful for the extra padding.  The only minor issue so far with the chain mail (and accompanying cap) is that it does muffle quite a bit of sound.  I'm not sure if there's a fix for this--I may just have to make do.  I'm also on the lookout for a respectable beard and eyebrow wear.  I'm planning on sitting probably behind the table, so I don't need to worry too much about boots or anything.  And I'll have a whole display that should hopefully sell the atmosphere.  Oooh...just had a thought. I could grab a bunch of large goblets from the d.i./thrift store and spray paint them gold, adorn with jewels to do a grail display, fill the porch up a bit.  Maybe glue them down to some planks though, or the wind/kids would just be constantly knocking them over.  Hmmm...will meditate on this...